THE VAUDREUIL PARISH PULSE
FEBRUARY 2007

FROM THE RECTOR:
Christmas and annual Vestry Meetings have taken place, and there was a feeling of health and love in both St Mary’s and St James’. I am very pleased that both Elizabeth McCrudden and Graham Campbell are ready to continue as Rector’s Warden. Congratulations to George Dempsey, who was elected People’s Warden at St Mary’s, and to Alison Bentley elected to continue as People’s Warden at St James’. Congratulations also to Alan Macleod and Lynn Bookalam, elected as deputy wardens for St James’ and St Mary's. Thank you all for taking on these responsibilities.

Thank-you, Tracy Gallacher and Doug Moulton for your faithfulness as Deputy Wardens. Doug undertook and finished an ambitious cataloguing of St James’ physical assets during the past year.

Both churches ended the year financially “in the black”. Budgets of both churches are realistic, and attainable for 2007. But we will need to redouble our efforts to maintain a realistic and generous standard of support from everyone.

I recommend automatic giving. It needs a commitment to regular sustained support through the year, and it puts the church on a much more stable footing than we have been in the past. Jesus talked a lot about being responsible with our money. It’s easy. Just decide how much you can contribute and fill out a form you can get at the back of the church, or from the website (Automatic Giving).

Call me! (458-5372); email me (jbradley@parishofvaudreuil.com ) and let me know what I can do for you or someone you know.

John +

MY SACRED STORY: Alison Bentley

One of the challenges set forth in David Ponting’s book “From Scarcity to Abundance: A Complete Guide to Parish Stewardship” and touched on at the Diocesan Conference* is to reflect on our own “sacred story”. Doing this encourages us to call to mind the times God has provided for us, the times he has caused us to give thanks that we can truly claim as our own Christ’s promise: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat, or about your body, what you will wear” (Luke 12:22-24). As someone who has over the years seen the incredible provision God makes in the lives of those who trust in him, I felt called to share my story. Hopefully others will feel they can do the same. Our parish is an amalgam of “sacred stories”, experiences that draw us closer together and to God.

Although I have always found truth in God’s promise to provide for us, there are two further verses in the Bible which have provided the foundation for my faith and for my decisions of how to spend my time, talent and treasure. The first is Romans 8:28: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him who have been called according to his purpose”, and Philippians 4:13: “I can do everything through him who gives me strength”. The one assures my focus in discovering God’s purpose in my life and the other assures me that I will be given the necessary grace to carry out that purpose in accordance with His will. Time and time again these promises have held true.

Flashback almost 35 years. Stewart and I, newly married, are bird watching in Europe in a small van of distinctly dubious vintage packed with most of our worldly possessions (and lots of spare parts!). While camped on a beach in Yugoslavia we awake one morning to find the van ransacked, everything but the clothes we were wearing gone along with most of our possessions. We were left with exactly what we needed to get home: our passports, green insurance card, a small amount of money and of course our tent and sleeping bags. I gave thanks to God for this provision. Determined to make the best of things we traveled back through Italy and Switzerland but in crossing the Alps the van overheated, the radiator cap sealed on, burning Stewart badly when he released it, and the brushes in the dynamo were fried. I thus push-started our vehicle all the way back up through Europe and we spent the last night of our honeymoon in a garage in Dover having the battery recharged. By now God’s promises were starting to wear a little thin. It was time to grab Romans 8:28 and ask what, if anything, God could resurrect from such a disastrous honeymoon. The answer came the following afternoon when we landed on the doorstep of some friends in Gravesend. Stewart had just got a job in Dartford, so we desperately needed accommodation in the London area, not an easy thing to find, especially as we had virtually nothing to our name. As we walked through the door Anne exclaimed “Oh, I’m so glad you’re back early, we had to give our notice on this house this afternoon and we knew it would be perfect for you”. The house was fully furnished, we were able to live with John and Anne until Stewart’s first paycheck arrived and the rent was considerably below average. Once again God had not only provided but turned everything to the good.

Despite my working four jobs at once and Stewart working full time along with finishing work on his PhD thesis, we never seemed to get ahead. We also did not like the London area so Stewart investigated other opportunities, left his Dartford position and we gave notice on the house. Almost immediately the miner’s strike happened, throwing England into crisis. In a short heartbeat all job offers were frozen, we had nowhere to live and as gas was rationed it was going to be very hard to even travel to refuge with one of our sets of parents. However God provided once again. I had worked at a gas station and when the owner heard of our plight he allowed us to fill up not only our tank but some petrol cans as well. Shortly after that we made it to Stewart’s parents and he went to Manchester to talk with his PhD supervisor who happened to be going to Canada the next day. John asked Stewart if he was interested in any job opportunities in that country. Two days later a telegram arrived requesting Stewart to come over for an interview. Within a few weeks we were in Canada, Stewart with a job whose taxes equaled what he’d earned in England. Within two days of our arrival we had found an apartment, a car and, more importantly, a church family at St. George’s, Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue. “I came that they might have life and have it abundantly” (John 10:10).

Shortly after our third child, Heather was born, Stewart was suddenly laid off, not an uncommon event in the mercurial pulp and paper industry. It was a few weeks before Christmas and we had three children under 8. We did, however feel called to keep up our contributions to the church, where I was deeply involved in the youth ministry and both of us in a dynamic fellowship group which had provided us with much growth in our Christian journey and in our marriage. One week such a resolve seemed to be almost impossible as we were waiting for UI to kick in and it was getting hard to claim that promise in Luke 12. Just at that point, however, I got a call from Jim Maclean saying an anonymous donor had left a huge basket of food and other necessities at the church for us. Soon after Stewart found work with another company and we were back on our feet again.

A few years later we felt called to provide a home for Stewart’s mother. Caring for an elderly relation with health problems long distance was just no longer a viable option. We knew that the mother of an only (and perfect) child would not fit into our crazy household of four less than perfect children often augmented by others as the need arose. We had recently acquired our home in Hudson and the corresponding mortgage so really did not have the financial resources to buy another home and as Mum had been in rented council housing all her life she had nothing to bring into the equation. The call remained strong however and we started to look for properties. Almost immediately a wonderful deal came up on a small house on Lower Maple which was perfect in that both the bedroom and bathroom were on the ground floor. We decided to make an offer. A couple of days later Stewart arrived home looking flabbergasted. In his hand was a cheque which about covered the entire price of the house – an unexpected profit-sharing bonus from his company. That had never happened before and never happened again. God had proved faithful to his promise to those who do his will.

I could continue with many instances, both great and small, in which we have witnessed God’s provision, not only financially but in terms of protection in times of danger, sending the right person at the right time to counsel us when our steps along His path were beginning to falter, and in my own case giving me the energy and resources to be able to work with young people both within the church and in the world. I keep getting asked how I manage to do all that I do. When I remember to be honest I answer “by the grace of God”. I feel giving of my time, talents and treasure is a natural response to His incredible grace and love. * See report in November Pulse

PARISH FAMILY NEWS:

Deaths: Ian Barclay died on December 26th and his Memorial Service was held
at St. James on January 2nd.

Alma Murphy (Penrose) died on December 28th and her burial took place
at St. James on January 5th.

Wedding: Nicole Pepin and Loy Cochran were married at St. Mary’s on December 29th, 2006.

Baptism: Molly Francis Rutledge daughter of Heather and Malcolm was baptized
at St. Mary’s on December 17th.

A BIRTHDAY PARTY: Alison Royle's Special Day
Sunday 18 February after 11:00 am service

To mark the occasion of Alison Royle's 90th Birthday, everyone is invited to a pot luck sandwich luncheon in St. James' Church Hall on Sunday, February 18th following the 11:00 AM Service (approximately 12:30 PM) at St. James' Church. Please bring enough sandwiches only for those in your party. They will mixed in with everyone else's to make up the pot luck. A Sue Charest cake will be provided for dessert. Please, no gifts! We'll have a special card for everyone to sign.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR: Tuesday 20 February at 5:00 pm

Please come to St. Mary’s Pancake Supper for a very enjoyable evening for the whole family. It will take place at 5:30 pm at St. Mary’s parish Hall. RSVP Elizabeth 458-4380 or Elsie 458-5226.

COMMUNION AT MANOIR CAVAGNAL: Friday, 23 February at 10:00 am.

WORLD DAY OF PRAYER AT ST. MARY’S: Sunday, 4 March at 4:00 pm.

World Day of Prayer is a worldwide movement of Christian women of many traditions who come together to observe a common day of prayer each year, and who, in many countries, have a continuing relationship in prayer and service. It is a movement initiated and carried out by women in more than 170 countries and regions. It is symbolized by an annual day of celebration-the first Friday in March-to which all people are welcome. It is a movement which brings together women of various races, cultures and traditions in closer fellowship, understanding and action throughout the year. It is a time for women to affirm their faith in Jesus Christ and share their hopes and fears, their joys and sorrows their opportunities and needs.

CHANCEL GUILD:

Sometime ago the tradition of not having memorial flowers during Lent was revived. However, it is possible to remember loved ones during that time; John, our rector, will place a candle on the altar in their memory. Please sign up on the flower chart at the entrance for the Sunday of your choice. Donations are very much appreciated by the chancel Guild.

“PULSE” CONTACT INFORMATION: The Parish Pulse Editorial Team is actively looking for your articles. Please feel free to contact any of them with your ideas or suggestions for an article. (Patti Ann Gannon, 613-674-1376, pattiann@sympatico.ca; Paul Brierley, 450-458-1750, paul.brierley@future.ca; Wilf Hall, 450-458-7913, wghall@sympatico.ca). The deadline for the next issue is Wednesday, February 21sth, 2007. The publication will be Friday, March 2nd, 2007.

Submissions should be directed to Patti Ann Gannon through: pattiann@sympatico.ca, parishvaudreuil@ca.inter.net, drop off at the Parish Office, fax to the Parish Office at 450-458-8802, or mail to The Parish of Vaudreuil, 642 Main Road, Hudson Heights, Quebec, J0P 1J0.
WEB LINKS RECOMMENDED BY THE EDITORS: http://www.montreal.anglican.org/index-01.shtmlhttp://www.alphacanada.org/
http://www.podm.net/po_how.htmhttp://www.montreal.anglican.ca/pc/www.parishofvaudreuil.com